Most armies that fought with swords and spears throughout the world used sheilds held in their hands or on their arms. Are their any examples of japanese sheilds? I'm pretty sure japanese warriors would probably have used sheilds originally because they were influenced by China. I'm just curious if anyone may know more about japanese warriors and sheilds. Can it be assumed that japanese warriors gave up hand held sheilds in favor of simply having reinforced armor? It's obvious that it is beneficial to have as many hands available as possible. Maybe the evolution of martial arts and the weapons the warriors preferred to use in battle caused sheilds to disapear. The environment could be another reason I'm guessing. It's sort of hard to run up and down through trees and mountainous terrain with a sheild, but then again earopeans did it. Maybe there never was any sheilds in japan and there is no reason other than that they simply didn't develop them. Does anyone know? What am I saying? Of course one of you knows.

Ancient Japanese warriors, before the samurai, used shields. Footsoldiers formed into 'phalanxes' with shields.
Reenactors:
Reenactor. The 'pants' may be incorrect here.
Illustration showing how the pants should look like.

The early samurai had very large shoulder guards (sode) which acted like shields and left both hands free to wield weapons.

Large portable wooden shields or pavises were used up to the end of the Sengoku period. They provided improvised barricades, roadblocks, defensive works. They were used in siegelines to provide cover for besieging missile troops. For defending forts these wooden shields were strategically placed to create layers of defense and redoubts. For an army on the battlefield they created makeshift defensive walls for the daimyo's HQ.
28mm versions I sculpted:

Last edited by evalerio on Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:23 am; edited 2 times in total

Can You tell me what was the japanese name of these wooden mantlets? I've heard that it was called "tate"...Is this correct? If it is, than it is the "tate" from the karakter means "stand"? (立て)_________________"Si vis Pacem, para bellum" Vegetius; Epitoma Rei Militaris

Can You tell me what was the japanese name of these wooden mantlets? I've heard that it was called "tate"...Is this correct? If it is, than it is the "tate" from the karakter means "stand"? (立て)

"Tate" is correct (although there may be other synonyms out there), but the kanji would be 楯 or 盾._________________Meditate upon exile, torture, wars, diseases, shipwreck, so that you may not be a novice to any misfortune.
- Seneca